Almost half of Latvian population experience physical pain on a daily basis

According to the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) carried out by the Central Statistical Bureau, 46.9 % of Latvian population aged over 15 years experience physical pain on a daily basis, which is 2.6 percentage points more than five years ago. Almost a third (32.3 %) of population feel very mild or mild pain, but 14.6 % – moderate to very severe pain.

Females indicated on pain more often than males

Even though pain and their intensity is a subjective assessment, it significantly differs between males and females. 52.3 % of females and 40.4 % males experience physical pain (49.3 % and 38.1 % – in 2014). Mainly population of Latvia experience very mild or mild pain – it is indicated by almost every third male (30 %) and female (34.3 %). 11.3 % of females experience moderate, but 6.7 % – severe or very severe pain (males – 6.8 % and 3.6 %, respectively).

Assessment of intensity of physical pain is increasing with age

As the age is increasing, the share of population indicating physical pain and growth of their intensity is also rising. Physical pain is experienced by a fourth (25.8%) of young people aged 15 to 24 years, while the share among seniors (aged over 75 years) is 2.6 times larger – pain is experienced by 67.5 % of seniors. Assessment of physical pain most rapidly is increasing among population in age groups 25–34 and 35–44 years. Among seniors there is a significant difference in breakdown by sex – physical pain is experienced by 71.7 % of females and 56.3 % of males. Moreover, each tenth (10.2 %) senior assesses the pain as severe or very severe.

Pain is causing discomfort in daily activities

Pain is a complex health problem that affects quality of life, working capacity and causes discomfort at home and at work of every individual. Pain mainly affects daily activities of females – majority of males (70.1 %) do not feel impact of pain, while share of these females is 13.6 percentage points less (56.5 %). Slightly less than a fifth of population (21.6 %) acknowledge that pain slightly affects daily activities at home and at work, 9.7 % – that it has moderate impact, but 6.1 % – that rather severely or severely. Mainly physical pain is affecting population aged over 75 years – 15 % indicate that pain is impacting their daily activities rather severely or very severely.

Most often individuals living in households with low income (53.4 %), economically inactive (47.5 %) and population living in Latgale (43 %) indicated that physical pain somewhat affects their daily activities.

Mostly pain is related to some chronic health problem

Existence of pain can be related to some certain disease or health problem. Among population feeling physical pain the majority (93.1 %) indicate that they have some long-term illness or health problem (among youth 79.4 %, but among seniors – 98.5 %).

One of most widespread health problems is back pain or other chronic back problems. Of population feeling physical pain, 60.3 % acknowledge that they face back problems. It is mainly indicated by population in age groups 45–54 and 55–64 years. But 37 % of population face cervical pain, but joint inflammation and joint deformities – 24.5 % and 20.3 %, respectively.

In 2019–2020 in European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) 6 thousand Latvian residents aged over 15 years were surveyed, whose answers were generalized to all residents of the respective age group. Well-being of population and subjective point of view on their health was found out in the survey, as well as self-assessment of lifestyle, use of health care services and accessibility in relation to socio-economic indicators of population was given.

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E-mail: media@csb.gov.lv
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More information on data
Anita Švarckopfa
Social Statistics Methodology Section
E-mail: Anita.Svarckopfa@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366648